North Korea

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea on Saturday extended a recent streak of weapons display by firing what appeared to be two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea, according to South Korea's military.

North Korean government media say last week’s launch of two short-range missiles was a warning to South Korea not to proceed with military exercises next month. But those actions are on track to continue — while the launches have drawn different reactions in Seoul and Washington.

PANMUNJOM, Korea — With wide grins and a historic handshake, President Donald Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un met at the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone on Sunday and agreed to revive talks on the pariah nation's nuclear program. Trump, pressing his bid for a legacy-defining deal, became the first sitting American leader to step into North Korea.

BEIJING — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping held broad discussions over the political situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula and called for stronger bilateral ties in the face of "serious and complicated changes" in the region, the North's state media said Friday.

It appears that President Trump will be meeting China’s president Xi Jinping next week in Japan. But while that may be the center of attention at the Group of 20 meeting, it’s not the only high-level meeting for the Chinese president.

Graphic artist Byeok Song created propaganda for the North Korean regime in the 1990’s. During the economic depression there, hunger led to prison time for him, and to his escape through China to South Korea. Song now works under an alias to protect his family, using art to bring attention to his homeland. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports.

On this Earth Day, renewable energy is in focus around much of the world. While Hawaii is a leader in some aspects of energy policy, clean energy is also gaining traction on the Korean peninsula in both the south and the north.

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea has test-fired a "new-type tactical guided weapon," its state media announced Thursday, in a possible attempt to register displeasure with currently deadlocked nuclear talks with the United States without causing those coveted negotiations to collapse.

As U.S. troops continue their presence along the southern border, they are putting up more razor wire. While this border is getting more barbed wire, there’s another famous dividing line between two countries where the trend is going the other way.

The United States and North Korea are quietly continuing talks about denuclearization. But South Korea’s government is moving faster toward cooperation on some projects with the North. And that’s drawing a reaction from the United States.

September is full of seasonal events. There’s Labor Day, the start of the National Football League season, and later this month, the United Nations General Assembly. There’s word this week that President Trump will meet South Korea’s president during that period to talk about North Korea; and according to South Korean media, there may be developments to discuss.

This was a triumphant weekend for Hawai‘i sports teams. Not only did Honolulu win the Little League World Series, but the underdog UH football team has a perfect record after winning its first game. On the other side of the Pacific there was also big news in amateur sports.

All eyes were on 55 coffins said to contain remains of US servicemen who fought in the Korean war. Vice President Mike Pence was on hand to welcome them home. But the work of actually identifying the service members falls to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

On this Independence Day, there’s an unusual event marking the day on the Korean peninsula. It’s a basketball game involving teams from North Korea and South Korea—and a date that is significant for both sides.

We’re just a few days away from President Trump’s scheduled meeting with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un in Singapore. And while global attention has been focused on these two leaders, several others will be affected by whatever takes place in Singapore.

The leaders of North and South Korea are scheduled to meet this Friday at the Demilitarized Zone on the border between the two countries. Both countries are scrambling with last minute preparations this week—but in different ways. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

President Trump will have a new Secretary of State advising him ahead of his planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un later this spring. But while the headlines in the United States are focused on these bi-lateral talks, some coverage in Asia is already looking at another possible high-level meeting. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Most headlines from the Korean peninsula these days are focused on the Olympics, tensions with North Korea, or a combination of both. But while the Olympics get underway tomorrow in South Korea, there’s a new product from North Korea that will not be part of the celebrations. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

As you’ve heard on the NPR News, President Trump wants to hold a big military parade in Washington, D.C., inspired by the celebrations he saw in Paris last Bastille Day. North Korea showed off its military might in a big parade in Pyongyang yesterday. We have more from Neal Conan in the Pacific News Minute.